Imported mare creates history with second Cox Plate win
Via Sistina created history when she joined the greats of the turf as a multiple winner of the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock became the 15th horse – and fifth mare – to win The Valley's signature race more than once, joining champions Tranquil Star, Flight, Sunline and four-time legend Winx.
Regular rider James Mcdonald was forced to work harder than last year, when Via Sistina smashed the Moonee Valley track record in an eight-length romp, lasting by a half-head to defeat stablemate Buckaroo with Treasurethe Moment one length back third.
ONE LAST MASTERPIECE
— 7HorseRacing(@7horseracing) October 25, 2025
Two for Via Sistina. Four for James McDonald. Six for Chris Waller.
The Cox Plate. There is nothing else like it in sport. @cwallerracing @mcacajamez @YulongInvest pic.twitter.com/PP3Uk21zdX
In winning, Via Sistina became the oldest mare to win at the highest level in Australia since the introduction of the Group 1 classification system in 1979.
Although considered an eight-year-old in Australia due to being born in the Northern Hemisphere, she is five months short of her eighth birthday, which will be on March 27, 2018.
She was 2770 days old at the time of her second Cox Plate success.
That is one day older than Winx was when she won the last of her 25 Group 1s, the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which was the previous record.
Via Sistina is likely to get a chance to take her Group 1 tally to 12 before the year is out with Chris Waller saying on Sunday morning that she is a strong chance to again head to the Champions Stakes at Flemington on November 8, a race she won last year.
